2010 WSOP Update: Tex Barch Wins a Bracelet

Christine Pietsch, a woman (not pictured) came thisclose to winning a bracelet in Event #21.

A lot of action around the Rio yesterday. A woman almost won a bracelet in a non-woman’s only event, and (fortunately) a man will not be winning one in a woman’s only event. Here’s the recap.

:: Event #20 ($1,500 PLO) – In what was the largest field ever for a live PLO tourney, it looked like Nenad Medic was going to cruise towards his second WSOP bracelet, but he ended up finishing second, losing heads-up to Tex Barch. This is Barch’s first bracelet, and he banks $256,919 for the win. Barch finished third in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, cashing for $2,500,000. Since then, he’s had a few sporadic cashes, and nothing since 2008. Time for Steve Dannenmann, a ginger, to step it up. Get full final table payouts here.

:: Event #21 ($1,500 7CS) – Big story here was that Christine Pietsch, a woman, almost helped make a case for it being the Year of the WomanTM by capturing a bracelet. At one point she had a significant chip lead, but unlike Wilson Phillips, she couldn’t hold on. Pietsch finished second, banking $86,756. Still, women now have a couple of thirds and a second, so “one” would think a bracelet or two might still be in the mix. In related news, Richard Ashby won the bracelet, his first, taking home $140,467. Get full payouts here.

:: Event #23 ($2,500 LH Six-Handed) – With 12 remaining, Al Barbieri is the chip leader, stacked at 415,000. He’s followed by Albert Minnullin with 367,000. J.J. Liu, a woman, takes another crack at winning a bracelet, as she’s still alive with 182,000. Dutch Boyd goes for his second bracelet, as he’s stacked at 348,000. Get full chip counts here.

:: Event #24 ($1,000 NLH) – A total of 1,931 started, and 290 finished. One of our favorite Girls on the Rail from last year, Brittany Bowman(above), made it through to Day 2. Get full chip counts here.

:: Event #25 ($10,000 Omaha Hi/Lo) – The final event on Saturday brought in 212 with 154 making it through to Day 2.Eugene Katchalov is the overnight chip leader, stacked at 123,200. He’s followed by Sergey Altbregin (112,500) and David Benyamine (102,500). Of the holy triumverate, Phil Hellmuth (84,300) and Phil Ivey (57,600) still remain. Get full chip counts here.